UPDATE: Those of you who have tried to give up smoking to improve your health will be interested in an article in the November issue of the Tufts University "Diet & Nutrition Letter." The message from this article is that coffee drinking can heighten the symptoms of tobacco withdrawal just at the time cigarettes are most difficult to stay away from - the first few days after quitting.
The problem has to do with the fact that smokers metabolize caffeine more quickly than non-smokers. That causes it to leave their systems faster, so the stimulating effects are not felt as strongly. In a study at the San Francisco General Hospital Medical Center, researchers measured the concentration of caffeine in the blood of a group of smokers before and right after they kicked the habit. They found that the blood level of caffeine soared to an average of 2 1/2 times what it had been before. What that means in practical terms is that a smoker who drinks two cups of coffee a day will feel like he/she is drinking five cups when smoking is stopped. Therefore, a person trying to quit smoking may also experience stress and agitation from "coffee jitters" on top of the tension the lack of tobacco is already causing.The solution to the problem is to cut down on coffee as soon as you give up cigarettes. This may seem strange and you may not want to deal with trying to modify another habit at the same time you are trying to stop smoking. However, simply understanding that some of the jitters and crankiness may be related to coffee intake and not the withdrawal from nicotine may help. Some smokers trying to quit may want to substitute decaffeinated coffee for regular coffee for the first week or so.
QUESTION: I'm trying to decide whether to buy an exercycle or rowing machine for indoor exercise during the winter. Which would you suggest?
ANSWER: The most important factor is to choose a mode of exercise that you enjoy. I like an exercycle because you can read or watch TV while you work. However, a recent study reported by the Reebok Aerobic Information Bureau comparing the effects of exercise using the two machines you mentioned found a better cardiovascular effect from the rowing machine. The reason? Rowing uses the back and arms in addition to the legs. However, there are some beautiful rowing machines on the market now and if used properly, should result in a fine training effect.
I just received a letter from a reader who began climbing the stairs in his house about six months ago. He has a rowing machine and an exercycle but said that climbing stairs was better than either for him. By the way, he had lost over 40 pounds since he started and said that he had never felt better in his life.